Rollercoasterwords

“And here’s the rest of it,” Sirius passed over the notes and homework for the other two classes, “I had to wait outside your Care of Magical Creatures class for half of lunch, so you’d better get top marks on that.”

“You did?!” Remus’s eyes widened in shock, smiling as if Sirius had just told him he’d found the cure for dragon pox. Sirius felt a thrill of joy at his friend’s amazed reaction.

Sirius felt an immediate wash of relief, paired with a strangely triumphant happiness—he knew Remus didn’t care about Lily!

“It’s not over,” he said, once he trusted himself to speak again, “I’ll show him. I’ll bloody destroy him!”

The marauders were at war.

“Revenge,” Remus agreed, “What’d you want to do to him?”

“Not just him,” Sirius said quickly, “All of them. Every single Slytherin in the school.”

Remus didn’t say anything, just nodded once, slowly. His gaze was a comfort, not quite understanding, but something close—eyes fronded by lashes, pupils so dark and liquid that Sirius could drown in them

What did you say, Mulciber?” Snape asked, staring at him.

“Angelic sweetie-pops!” The Slytherin shouted, furious, “No! I meant – darling sugar plum! No! Goody-gumdrops!”

“Nope, you’re up to something Lupin, I know you – you’re not Moony if you don’t have a secret.”

“So let me have my secret then,” Remus said, cryptically, a familiar mischievous light dancing in his eyes.

There was a sudden warm pressure on his shoulder. It was Moony—he'd reached out, as if to say I’m here, hand firm and grounding, unknotting the tension in Sirius’s chest. Reminding him that he wasn’t alone.

Sirius looked down at the fingers, faintly scarred, ghostly patterns that caught the light. He felt a sudden surge of affection for his friend, and turned, smiling gratefully up at Remus.

“A good surprise, then?” Mrs. Potter asked, looking very pleased with herself as she entered the hallway. She shook Ted’s hand, cooing over the baby.

“You did this?!” Sirius blinked, feeling the dangerous sting of tears in his eyes. No one had ever done something so—so nice for him

It was a new development, this strange awareness, and a rather unwelcome one. Ever since Remus had reached out and gripped his shoulder, Sirius kept getting distracted by the smallest movements—he’d find his eyes following Remus’s fingers as he adjusted his tie, or realize he was staring if Remus reached over and began to fiddle absentmindedly with the sleeve of his robes. When Remus sat down next to him on the train, their knees had knocked together, and Sirius had only realized a few seconds later that he was holding his breath